Lexical Distance

This chart shows the lexical distance — that is, the degree of overall vocabulary divergence — among the major languages of Europe.

The size of each circle represents the number of speakers for that language. Circles of the same color belong to the same language group. All the groups except for Finno-Ugric (in yellow) are in turn members of the Indo-European language family.

English is a member of the Germanic group (blue) within the Indo-European family. But thanks to 1066, William of Normandy, and all that, about 75% of the modern English vocabulary comes from French and Latin (ie the Romance languages, in orange) rather than Germanic sources. As a result, English (a Germanic language) and French (a Romance language) are actually closer to each other in lexical terms than Romanian (a Romance language) and French.

So why is English still considered a Germanic language? Two reasons. First, the most frequently used 80% of English words come from Germanic sources, not Latinate sources. Those famous Anglo-Saxon monosyllables live on! Second, the syntax of English, although much simplified from its Old English origins, remains recognizably Germanic. The Norman conquest added French vocabulary to the language, and through pidginization it arguably stripped out some Germanic grammar, but it did not ADD French grammar.

The original research data for the chart comes from K. Tyshchenko (1999), Metatheory of Linguistics. (Published in Russian.)

http://elms.wordpress.com/2008/03/04/lexical-distance-among-languages-of-europe/

Language & Being Rational

Prior to the invention of Radar, this device helped to focus, magnify and trace the engine sounds of attacking aircrafts..

Study:
Decisions Made in a Foreign Language Are More Rational

David Berreby on June 13, 2012, 7:06 PM Struggling with a foreign language is practically the definition of mental strain: what is the word for "screwdriver" again? did I produce that "ĥ" sound correctly? are they laughing with me or at me? And mental strain, according to post-rational theories of the mind, has consequences for how we think. But what consequences? Maybe (1) the extra work of a foreign tongue makes people more reliant on unconscious, automatic mental processes (since they used up their conscious reasoning power trying to remember the ablative-honorific form for postcard). On the other hand, maybe (2) the conscious and deliberate effort required by the foreign tongue brings the subject of the words into conscious focus, making people less reliant on those unconscious mental mechanisms. So which is it? This paper, in the current Psychological Science, offers a nice, clear decision in favor of option 2: People who evaluated risk in a foreign language, it reports, were more rational and accurate than those who worked in their native tongue.

Boaz Keysar, Sayuri L. Hayakawa, and Sun Gyu An put 368 students through an exercise devised to neatly separate the workings of what Daniel Kahneman calls System 1 (automatic, unconscious, biased) from those of System 2 (the deliberate, conscious attention that you focus when and where you feel the need). System 1 works with a set of rules of thumb that don't align with logic, one of which is a much greater sensitivity to possible losses than to possible gains.

So most people, if they could give an experimental medicine to 600,000 people and be sure to save 200,000, would prefer that option to a different drug that might save everyone but might not work on anyone. (A sure 200,000 saved is better than a potential to save 0.) However, consider that same drug (could save all, could save no one) against a different alternative: A medicine that is sure to leave 400,000 people dead. In that case, people prefer the drug that might save everyone (potential to save 600,000 is better than certain loss of 400,000). That's not logical, because that drug is the same as the one that for sure saves 200,000. But it satisfies System 1's bias against risks that could lead to a loss.

So the two versions of the question (certain life for 200,000 versus certain death for 400,000) can reveal whether a group of people is using System 1 or System 2 to think about the issue. System 2 users, thinking deliberately and consciously, will tend to see that the questions are identical, so answers to either version will tend to be the same. But people leaning on the unconscious System 1 will show a big difference: They'll favor the save-200,000 option much more than the lose-400,000, not noticing that they're the same.

Keysar et al. ran this diagnostic procedure on 368 students in different settings (native English speakers who spoke Japanese as a second language; Koreans who spoke English; and another set of English speakers who had learned French). The results are pretty striking: In all three experiments, people working in their native tongue showed a strong preference for the option that reminded them of lives saved over the one that reminded them of lives lost. But people working in the foreign language didn't distinguish, presumably because they had reasoned it out and saw that they were the same.

All in all, a fine argument for foreign-language learning, and foreign-language use. More immediately, the study seems to help resolve a question where post-rational models seem to clash. At least when it comes to language, it seems the effect of bringing conscious focus to a subject outweighs the effect of adding to the mind's cognitive load.

Keysar, B., Hayakawa, S., & An, S. (2012). The Foreign-Language Effect: Thinking in a Foreign Tongue Reduces Decision Biases Psychological Science, 23 (6), 661-668
DOI: 10.1177/0956797611432178

http://bigthink.com/Mind-Matters/study-decisions-made-in-a-foreign-language-are-more-rational?utm_source=Big+Think+Weekly+Newsletter+Subscribers&utm_campaign=c8b246868f-Sat_6_16_Gay_gene6_15_2012&utm_medium=email

Memorization of Quran

Katheem had questioned on how the non-Arabic speaking kids been able to memorize Quran..?

I guess this is not the problem, as kids have that unique ability to memorize as part of their natural learning curve.. However, Religious Schools across the Muslim World had followed a simple technique of daily and continuous reciting sessions, with both incentives and penalties.. It had worked successfully for more than 1400 years..!
In addition, the honor and glory a Quran Memorizer would receive among his peers, community and family is the greatest incentives for working hard on his goal.. There are many religious morals within both reciting and memorization, which each Muslim feels the urge for..

Islam recommends the memorization of Quran, which helps to perform rituals, prayers and teachings.. It should be in parallel to a least level understanding; which is usually and unfortunately taught by unqualified teachers; who had been brought up by the same process.. End-Result: Divide between Deeds and Says.. Misalignment between Heart and Mind.. This is the Taliban Story..!!

This is the core linguistic divide among Arabs and Muslims in understanding and implementing Islam..

In traditional Arabic; the extended interpretations, the linguistic ingredients and eloquence capacity can either sail to unlimited expressions or dive into confusing symbolism.. This is not only a dilemma for non Arab to deal with, but also for the Arabs themselves.. The modern Arabic is too simple that downgrades the meanings or been inadequate to explain..!!

Quran Memorization by Non-Arabic Speakers kids

Quran Reciting by Non-Arabic Speakers kids

Arabic is never an easy language to learn; whereas its Sematic liguitic group varies a lot from others.. The same Applies to Hebrow, .. It is an issue of the structural composition rather than phonatic and expressions.. Accordingly, the logic varies, which make it uneasy for foriegners to learn, or for upcoming generations to uphold..

Arabic is my mother tongue.. I guess I master it enough to avoid not using it in epistemic discussions..!!

Dominance of English

A dear friend had questioned me why not using Arabic..?

To start with on how my machine is not Arabic enabled; is not justifiable.. Either to change it or download Arabic enabling applications..

But the fact: it is a mindset; which is different and distinct.. Use of language can tell why cultures are closer, clashing, fighting or reconciling.. In addition, the Arabic cyber users are 86 million or 24% of population or 4% of world users.. and 35 milion Facebook members.. Yet, the catch is on usage maturity, professionalims and business orientation: There is no data.. You may assume whatsoever you like..!!
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats19.htm

I strongly encourage "intellectual" Arabs to learn English.. This is inevitable for tomorrow's world; which Giscard d'Estaing had predicted the death of other languages.. Arabs and others have to learn English; otherwise they will be totally expelled from the "intellectual" future.. Despite the few claims that English dominance will not last; the basis of the claim are hypocritical.. True measures are not only the dominance of internet and research, but also both GDP blocs and Publications..

Inside my household I speak Arabic; but in my "intellectual" global network; I use English.. Being proud of a cultural heritage is something; while being part of global culture is another.. Using foreign languages is not necessarily to speak as a native; but enables comparable approach to assess the depth of local epistemia and examine the rationales of both brains and muscles.. It enables the “intellectual others” to criticize, analyze and advise on local issues.. Then, development and performance will not be locally limited, but exposed for the world to share.. It is about eligibility of intellectual assets for exposure and participation..
Tunisian Spring was much successful than others; by the serious contributions from "intellectual" Migrant Tunisians.. They had brought different views for the domains by their "intellectual" exposure; which is not a cultural seizure.. Globalization is not a cultural surrender, but accreditation.. Egyptians, Yeminis, Syrians and Sudanese were seized within their intensified local slogans, debates and state-of-mind.. The agony had downgraded their dreams and solutions.. Their views were mostly ruptures of sociopolitical fabrics, rather than progressive political performance.. Being preys of international political games is not an excuse, but a proof of intellectual failure..!!

The current “Arabic Dark Age” is a product of cultural isolation; which did not import and transmit the concepts of precision, governance and progression.. The people are smart; but have no access to the empirical knowledge.. During the last 50 years, the Arabic Chauvinism had created linguistic barriers, with legitimate claims of Identity pride and protection.. Many other nations understand English, and comprehensively use it to improve their local practices and knowledge.. References of science and professions are edited, published and updated in English, while the limited translations are very poor.. The "intellectual" others master the English when they need to, despite how they insist on their national language in communications, domestics and media..

Despite the intensive “Arabization” of software, manuals and applications; most of the intellectual Arabs of today; had lost the resilience of their cultural identity..

However, life is all about different points of views..